Senate Bill 1176

Florida’sSenate Regulated Industries Committee has voted 11 to 1 to pass a bill that would expand upon a medical cannabis extract bill approved by lawmakers in 2014.

In July, Governor Rick Scott signed into law a proposal that legalized the possession, use and state-licensed distribution of low-THC cannabis extracts for the treatment of cancer, epilepsy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This new proposal, Senate Bill 7066, would add multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, paraplegia, quadriplegia and terminal illness to the list of conditions that qualify an individual to purchase, possess and use cannabis-based medicines.

Florida State Senator Dwight Bullard filed Senate Bill 1176 this week, a proposal to legalize the possession, private cultivation and state-licensed distribution of recreational cannabis for those 21 and older.

Senate Bill 1176 would allow those 21 and older to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis, and to cultivate up to six cannabis plants. Cannabis retail outlets would also be allowed, with the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco being renamed the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, and put in charge of regulations for the cannabis production and distribution centers.